Artist Biography

Janene Bouck is inspired by nature; most of her materials and subject matter originate from the Great Sacandaga Lake Area, the Adirondacks and her childhood home, the Mohawk Valley Region. In addition to creating artwork and decor, Janene also digitally restores photography at her studio in Broadalbin, New York. Janene Bouck is native of Upstate New York where she has worked as a graphic artist, kitchen designer, architectural designer and draftsperson. Janene studied drafting, interior design, and the graphic and fine arts at Fulton Montgomery Community College and Sage of Albany.She produces photography and photographic restorations under the DBA, Silent Photography.

Janene sometimes produces images using only the types of photographic editing techniques available in a darkroom. She also paints digitally, utilizing computer techniques to enhance the final image. In some cases, Janene builds her work from multiple photographs to create a collage of texture and light. Drawing on her education and experience in drafting, the graphic arts & interior design, she enjoys restructuring & embellishing while honoring the original form & aesthetic of her subject matter. Janene feels that rust, patina, and even decay often define her work, holding shadows more firmly. An environmental advocate, she often incorporates found materials in all her work.

Janene also creates art and one-of-a kind goods at her home business, Silent Jane Salvage LLC in Broadalbin, New York. Janene is inspired by nature and found materials; most of the materials used while creating Silent Jane décor & the subject matter of Silent Photography originate from the Great Sacandaga Lake Area, the Adirondack Forest and the historical Mohawk Valley Region of New York.

Artist Statement

My photographic work is selfish, beginning as an attempt to learn about my own motivations. I catch a significant moment of reflected light as it passes through a technological wonder. I take it home and privately judge the outcome. Then I decide what to share, which photos I perceive to be the best at capturing my emotional responses. Creating my work assists my personal struggle to find balance and peace, to understand my own responses to the world around me.

I share my work in hopes of exploiting the best qualities of human nature. I want to encourage contemplation of our everyday banality vs the enormous responsibility humans have as stewards of the Earth. Our home is a miracle; each member of our ecosystem, every living thing is a wonder not to be underappreciated or devalued. Every action or inaction of each individual shapes us all. The extraordinary measure of our time together, the infinite nature of existence and the delicate snippet of eternity we occupy on this gorgeous blue planet should be treasured, protected and coveted.

I started the work of Silent Jane Salvageat home in 2014,in response to a series of personal tragedies.

The Silent Story: about Silent Jane Salvage

I started the work of Silent Jane Salvage in 2014, in response to a series of personal tragedies.

I lost my sister to Pancreatic cancer that began in her ovaries, spread through her GI tract, then settled in her Pancreas in the summer of 2013. From there, cancer took over her body; her life was extinguished in March of 2014. Wendy Bouck left behind a legacy that was filled with children who needed her. In a poor attempt to substitute the full-time support that she had provided to her grandchildren, I left my job and started working from home.

I became suddenly ill in August of 2014. I experienced an undiagnosed traumatic GI event that left me nearly bedridden for weeks. As a result, my weakened immune system couldn’t protect me and I contracted Epstein-Barr Virus, developed pneumonia, and I experienced cardiac and other changes that continue to affect me daily. Because of these changes, I lost much more than my health. I also lost the ability to care for my beautiful great-niece and had to give up being her guardian.

After I recovered some of my strength, and with the support of Toby Hogan, my amazingly generous boyfriend, I decided to professionally pursue the work I had started in 2014. In 2015, Silent Jane Salvage became a home-based business.

I chose the business name for many reasons. I use Jane as a professional name simply because it is easy to remember and a contraction of my given name, Janene. Silent is a pretty funny oxymoron if you have ever met me. However, that is not the reason I chose the word Silent. For me, Silent is also a significator. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in my twenties; a nasty, silent illness that affects 10 million people in the US alone. I am also reminded to be grateful for my health each day, even though I also experience chronic pain from the back injury at work that diminished my active lifestyle in 2013. None of my health issues are apparent and I do my best to remain silently humble, nothing I experience is life-threatening. Not in spite of this but BECAUSE of all this, I am specifically aware and reminded every day that I am blessed to be able to use my body and my mind to create.

So many others are not as fortunate and cannot continue their daily tasks. I may have bad days. It is sometimes hard to attend a scheduled event, to keep that appointment or enjoy that party. I have to remind myself that I do not need to apologize for being sick. As long as there are good days I will treasure them. I work hard when I can. I hope to continue to share my art for a very long time and I hope you enjoy what I am able to offer, a silent view of this beautiful, wonderful, and terrible world.